Czech Republic – The Wknd Travel

A Dream Come True: 19 DAYS Around NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC & DENMARK for Less Than ₱120,000 – Airfare, Accommodation & 12-Hour Singapore Stopover Included

Last October to November 2019, I flew to Europe all by myself for 19 days & went around Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark. I never thought this trip that took 7 years to plan would finally happen & that I would do everything alone & DIY – no help from any travel agency, consultant or whatsoever. If you’ve been following me the last few months, I’ve shared every single detail of this Euro trip from city itineraries, flight reports, to hostels & even local food. You can find all posts under the Going Solo in Europe category.

Going to Europe for a long trip like this is not a cheap trip to do. Some people spend hundreds of thousands on airfare & accommodation & add probably another hundred for food, pocket money & tours. I didn’t have that much savings for this kind of expensive trip so I did a lot of research to make it happen in a relatively affordable budget. AND I DID IT! I flew to Europe for 19 days around 4 countries including airfare, accommodation & a 12-hour Singapore stopover for less than ₱120,000 all in. Let me share with you how I made this trip of a lifetime possible.

Disclaimer: There are ways to make this trip even cheaper than what I spent – staying in cheaper hostels, taking low-cost carriers / buses with cutting trips, etc. – but I wanted to make it special (as a first time) & splurged a bit on some parts like food (& beers), high-rated hostels & better transportation options. Also, I only chose to visit 4 countries instead of hopping on from one country to the other after a day or two to have a better appreciation of every country / city. I am not a fan of rushed trips; I enjoy staying longer in one place or country.

In case you missed it last week, I posted an article on 11 Europe thrift hacks that I did on this trip. These thrift hacks helped me save on some expenses like food & tours. Check out that article here.

Air Tickets

I took the risk & booked a return ticket to Europe with Singapore Airlines during their January promotion with BPI Credit Cards. I got the economy class ticket from Manila to Amsterdam via Singapore & Copenhagen to Manila via Singapore for only 719.23 USD. The ticket includes 30-kilogram baggage allowance on all sectors, in-flight meals & snacks, personal entertainment screens & their 5-star Singaporean hospitality. My BPI credit card charged me ₱37,669.40 including foreign transaction fees. Not bad for a ticket to Europe considering it’s with Singapore Airlines, right?

Months before the trip, I figured out the route I’ll take & the countries I’ll visit. Then, I booked air tickets for my inter-European transfers. Train tickets were more expensive & would take a few changes while bus trips, even if cheap, will take ages & a few transfers before you reach the next city / country. I paid €67,40 for a plane ticket from Brussels, Belgium to Prague, Czech Republic on Brussels Airlines. I booked another ticket from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark on Czech Airlines for 1,588 Kč. Both tickets include 23-kilogram check in baggage. I got charged ₱4,000.85 & ₱3,658.88, respectively for these 2 tickets.

I booked these 3 tickets without a Schengen tourist visa. Some people don’t recommend this, but I took the risk & did it. I was confident that time that I will be granted visa for this trip & luckily, I got one.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Europe is not cheap. A dormitory bed in a hostel costs about €30 to €40 a night, depending on the room configuration & location. Hotels & private rooms are more expensive. I can’t afford them. I booked my hostels 4 months into the trip. All these hostel bookings had free cancellation options if I don’t push through. I became picky with the hostels I’ll stay with since it was my first time in Europe. I stayed in popular & high-rated hostels found in central & well-recommended locations.

I stayed with Generator Hostel in Amsterdam (₱8,885.82 for 4 nights – paid in Philippine Peso), Sleep Well Youth Hostel in Brussels (€122 for 4 nights – paid during check-in), DREAM Hostel in Prague (1,790 Kč for 4 nights – paid via credit card on check-in) & Steel House in Copenhagen (US$ 116.24 for 4 nights – paid via Agoda). I paid ₱26,117.54 for 16 nights in these 4 countries – roughly ₱1,632.25 per night in Philippine Peso or €28,49 per night in Euros. I think I still got a good deal from these hostels! It would’ve been cheaper if booked my stay at least 8-10 months before.

Travel Insurance

Schengen tourist visa applications require a travel insurance with up to €30,000 medical coverage for the duration of the trip, some even up to 15 to 30 days after the trip. I got my travel insurance coverage online from Standard Insurance; I got their Travel Protect Policy which covers up to €37,500 medical coverage for 19 days. I paid ₱1,918 for the 19-day coverage.

Tourist Visa

I applied for my own Schengen tourist visa with VFS Netherlands. The visa fee cost €60 (₱3,420) + ₱901 VFS handling fee. I opted for the passport delivery service instead of picking up my passport in the VFS office. I paid a small fee for the courier service. I previously shared in this website how I got my Schengen tourist visa without the help of any tour agency. Check out that Tuesday Tip post here.

Internet Sim Card

Traveling around Europe alone isn’t easy. I made sure I was connected to the internet for the whole duration of the trip. I bought an internet sim card from Pinoy Traveler’s Unlimited Data Sim Card on Facebook. The sim card was operated by Three UK & it included 12 GB of 3G/4G data & unlimited call & text in Europe & UK & 9 GB of 3G/4G data outside Europe & UK for 30 days. The sim card cost ₱1,600 with free shipping. The data, call & text services worked well during my stay in Singapore, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark.

Travel Tax

All Philippine passport holders are required to pay a travel tax of ₱1,620 before going out the country for holiday. I paid the travel tax right before I checked in for my flight from Manila to Singapore.

Daily Budget & Unexpected Expenses

I mentioned in my Europe thrift hacks post that I set a daily budget of €40 for food, transportation & entrance fees. I spent more in some days but I was traveling on a €30-€35 per day budget. There were days where I had to buy last-minute museum tickets (Heineken Experience & Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam), join guided tours (Canal Tour in Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken in Holland & Kutná Hora in Czech Republic) & go on side trips (Utrecht, Bruges, Ghent & Český Krumlov) which cost me more. I also bought last-minute train & bus tickets in Belgium & Czech Republic – the downsides of not following an itinerary.

I splurged on beers in all 4 countries; I paid more for food in Denmark (food there is expensive) but I’m happy I still had about €120 cash left at the end of the trip. I counted all my expenses from pocket money, to credit & debit card transactions & debit card withdrawals for 19 days. I spent ₱34,327.78 (around €600) for 17 full days (travel days not included) on food, transportation, walking tours, entry tickets, guided tours & beers – about €35 per day on average.

Singapore Stopover

My flight from Manila to Amsterdam had a 12-hour layover in Singapore. I took this time to meet 2 friends – one for lunch + milk tea & one for early dinner. I also used this time to walk around the beautiful city, check out a city library & walk around The Jewel at Changi Airport. I spent around S$50 (₱1,859.4 conversion that time) on this 12-hour stop – food, drinks & transportation included.

Summary of Expenses

After all the costs & numbers mentioned above, let’s see how much I actually spent for the trip.

Exchange rate at the time of trip: €1 = ₱57.3 Exchange rates of purchases & withdrawals vary. There you go! I spent ₱117,092.85 pesos for a 19-day trip around 4 European Countries – Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark – with air tickets, accommodation costs & a 12-hour Singapore stopover included. If you’ll include the transportation expenses during the visa application process, to & from the airport when I left & arrived, it’ll be somewhere around ₱118,500 – still less than ₱120,000!

Don’t get me wrong, ₱117,092.85 is a very big amount but we’re talking about a 19-day trip to Europe here flying with one of the world’s premium airlines – Singapore Airlines & visiting first world & expensive countries like Netherlands, Belgium & Denmark. I couldn’t believe this when I listed all my expenses after the trip. I wanted this trip to be fun, memorable & spontaneous & I’m happy it turned out to be a trip of a lifetime. This solo trip to Europe is so far my longest, most expensive & most memorable experience I’ve had in my life. Every single peso spent was worth it!

Blog List

In case you’re interested in the posts about this trip, check out the blog list below.

FLIGHT REPORTS ✈️

SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 915 – Manila to Singapore – 5-Star Economy Class Experience In A New Generation Boeing Dreamliner
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 324 – Singapore to Amsterdam – My First Ever 13-Hour Flight That Didn’t Feel Like One
BRUSSELS AIRLINES SN 2811 – Brussels to Prague – Belgium’s Flag Carrier & My First Ever European Airline Experience
CZECH AIRLINES OK 502 – Prague to Copenhagen – Czech Republic’s National Carrier & World’s Fifth Oldest Operating Airline
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 351 – Copenhagen to Singapore – Cozy & Enjoyable 12-Hour Window Seat Economy Class Flight Back to Asia
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 912 – Singapore to Manila – 3-Hour Remarkable Economy Class Experience Aboard A 15-Year Old Aircraft

HOSTEL FEATURES 🏨

GENERATOR AMSTERDAM – An Old University Building Turned Award-Winning Economy Accommodation
SLEEP WELL YOUTH HOSTEL BRUSSELS – Eco-Friendly City Center Hostel with Excellent Free Buffet Breakfast
DREAM HOSTEL PRAGUE – Stylish & Budget-Friendly Backpacker Hostel in New Town
STEEL HOUSE COPENHAGEN – 4 Nights in Danish Capital’s New York-Inspired Industrial Style Luxury Accommodation

VISA APPLICATION & TIPS ✍️

Do-It-Yourself SCHENGEN TOURIST VISA Application With VFS NETHERLANDS
11 EUROPE THRIFT HACKS You Should Know
10 THINGS TO KNOW Before Traveling To Europe

NETHERLANDS 🇳🇱

AMSTERDAM – Beautiful Canals, Colorful Houses & Interesting Museums In A Bustling City
UTRECHT- Unplanned Afternoon Visit To Netherlands’ Underrated Canal City
NORTH HOLLAND COUNTRYSIDE – A Day Trip To The Cheese Farm & Clogs Factory, Windmills & Waterlands
6 Dutch Delis I Enjoyed

BELGIUM 🇧🇪

BRUSSELS – Belgium’s Center, Europe’s Capital & Most Boring City?
BRUGES – Cobbled Alleys, Gingerbread Houses & Pretty Canals in Belgium’s Picture-Perfect City
GHENT – Belgium’s Underrated Port City
5 Must Try Belgian Treats

CZECH REPUBLIC 🇨🇿

PRAGUE – Europe’s Most Beautiful Capital City
KUTNÁ HORA – Day Trip To Central Bohemia’s Medieval Silver Mining Town
ČESKÝ KRUMLOV – Czechia’s Quaint Fairy Tale Town
4 Czech Eats To Savor

DENMARK 🇩🇰

COPENHAGEN – Walking Around Denmark’s Wonderful Capital City
7 Danish Delicacies Not To Miss
7 Interesting Observations About Denmark

Thank you for joining me in today’s Euro trip summary. I’ve made use of the pandemic to finish all the posts about this trip. It’s a shame that my next planned trip to Europe this October won’t push through, but it won’t stop me from planning my next trip to this beautiful continent. We may all be stuck in our own homes but we’ll surely go back to the time when travelling is safe & sound. It’s never too late to give up on your dream trips to Europe! Make use of this downtime to research about the cities & countries you want to visit & plan out the route you’ll take.

Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Is there anything you want to ask how I planned the trip in general? Or maybe how I did it? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. You can also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Feel free to follow me on my social media channels for more information on cheap fares, thrift hacks & fun itineraries – Facebook & Instagram. I’ll finish the post with this.. I DID IT – 19 DAYS AROUND NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC & DENMARK FOR LESS THAN ₱120,000 ALL IN & I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

P’s List: 4 Czech Eats To Savor

Spending 4 full days in Czech Republic was memorable, fun & relatively cheap. I easily fell in love with the country’s main city & small towns, people, culture & food. Prague has the most picturesque streets, Kutná Hora has the most interesting church & Český Krumlov has the quaintest small-town vibe. While walking around these places, I also took the time to try some dishes that are very Czech in origin & nature.

In the previous lists, I shared with you my favorite cheap things to do while in Japan, 5 treats you should try when in Belgium & 6 delis I enjoyed during my time in the Netherlands. Today, I will share with you the 4 unique eats I tried during my time in Czech Republic.

Czech National Food – Vepřo Knedlo Zelo

Vepřo Knedlo Zelo, or Roasted Pork with Cabbage & Dumplings in English, is Czech Republic’s national dish. This consists of roasted pork loin with fermented cabbage & bread dumplings. It’s not the tastiest dish (kinda bland imo) but its elements complement each other’s tastes.

I had this dish for lunch at Hospoda Na Louži during my day trip to Český Krumlov. It cost me 195 Kč – around €7 or ₱380++ in our local currency. Its price was not bad; it’s already a nice meal in a decent restaurant.

Guláš

Guláš, or Goulash in English, is another famous beef stew dish in Czech Republic. Although the dish originated from Hungary, the Czech people made their own version beefier but milder in taste & with lesser vegetables. The dish is at times made with beer & is served with the famous Czech bread dumplings.

I had a special goulash meal during our lunch in Kutná Hora. I ordered Restaurace Dačický’s Wild Boar Goulash with Gingerbread Dumplings for 219 Kč – close to €8 or ₱430++ in our local currency. This dish was very tasty; it had a very thick but mild sauce. The price was acceptable considering Restaurace Dačický is one of the nicest restaurants in town.

Trdelník

Trdelník is a popular tourist snack in Czech Republic, particularly in Prague. It is a spit cake made from dough rolled around a stick & grilled. Once cooked, it’s topped with sugar. Some shops offer it with ice cream & other fancy toppings. Our tour guide told us that this dish originally came from Slovakia / Hungary but was well-adopted by the Czechs.

Just like Belgian waffles, Trdelník is best enjoyed without any topping. I already forgot how much one cost but it’s not that much. I bought from the stall in-front of Havelský Market on my way from the Old Town back to DREAM Hostel Prague.

Czech-Style Sausages

Sausages in long buns are a thing in Prague, especially around Wenceslas Square. The sausages are served in long buns. The customers then go to the side to add in mustard, mayonnaise or ketchup. These sausages became my favorite dinner dish after long walks around the city. Each sausage in a bun cost from 80 Kč. It’s best paired with a bottle or can of soda.

Bonus – Czech Beer!

Czech people love beers. They love it up to the point where they consume more beers than most countries in the world. On top of the beer culture, Czech beers are very cheap – way cheaper than bottles of water or juice. The most famous beer they have is Pilsner Urquell, the pilsner-style beer from the town of Plzen. Other Czech beers include Holba, Kozel, Krumlov Light & Kutná Hora Lager.

These beers cost around 35 Kč to 39 Kč per 500 mL bottle in restaurants – that’s around €1,2 to €1,4 or ₱70 to ₱78 in our local currency. Take note these half liter beers can be cheaper in supermarkets & groceries. For reference, a small bottle of beer in Amsterdam & Brussels costs €4. Beers in Czech Republic are really cheap. To be honest, I had more beer than water during my 4-day stay in this country.

And that’s about it! There are still other interesting Czech dishes but I didn’t have time to try them. I got busy walking around Prague & the towns of Kutná Hora & Český Krumlov, eating those cheap but tasty Czech sausages for dinner & drinking local beers every after meal or snack. Which of the dishes mentioned above got your attention? Is there something that stood out that you want to try it as soon as possible? Share your thoughts in the comments section. Do you have any question about those mentioned above or about Czech Republic in general? You may send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

These sausages placed in a long bun became my staple dinner during my time in Czech Republic 🇨🇿

If you want to know more about my 19-day European trip, check out the articles & posts under the Going Solo in Europe category. Everything about the trip is under that section. Thank you for joining me in today’s P’s List! Join me in the next post as I take you with me to the lovely country of Denmark.

Before you go, can I ask you to please follow me on my social media pages? Here are my Facebook & Instagram accounts. I hope you can also share these pages to your family & friends. Thanks again & see you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Flight Report: CZECH AIRLINES OK 502 – Prague to Copenhagen – Czech Republic’s National Carrier & World’s Fifth Oldest Operating Airline

Hi & welcome to another trip report! Last time, I took you with me onboard Brussels Airlines flight SN 2811 from Brussels, Belgium to Prague in Czech Republic. I went around the country for 4 full days – walked around Prague & Prague Castle, saw the bone church in Kutná Hora & visited the quaint fairy tale town of Český Krumlov. I enjoyed my time around Czech Republic but I had to move to the next country – Denmark.

Last November 2019, I flew from Prague to Copenhagen in Denmark onboard Czech Airlines flight OK 502. This short flight on one of the world’s oldest airlines will be the subject of today’s flight report. Join me as I share bits about Czech Airlines & its in-flight product, the ground experience in Václav Havel Airport Prague & the flight in general.

Czech Airlines

Czech Airlines, České Aerolinie in local language, is Czech Republic’s flag carrier based in Václav Havel Airport in Prague. The airline started operations in 1923; it is (at time of writing) the world’s 5^th oldest airline after KLM, Avianca, Qantas & Aeroflot. The Czech government used to own the airline but was passed on to different private owners including Korean Air. As of today, Smartwings, Czech Republic’s biggest (low-cost) airline, owns majority of Czech Airlines. The airline flies to more than 30 European & Middle Eastern countries on both regular schedules & seasonal charters.

Czech Airlines is a proud member of the SkyTeam Alliance & has partnerships with Air France, KLM, Aeroflot, China Airlines, Delta, Korean Air, Garuda Indonesia & a lot more. The airline’s frequent flier program is called OK Plus. The program gives passengers OK Plus Miles on flights with Czech Airlines.

Airfare & Inclusions

I booked my Czech Airlines ticket directly with the airline 5 months before the flight. I paid 1,588 Kč (₱3,658.88 in local currency, credit card charges included) for this one-way ticket that includes 8-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance, 23-kilogram check in baggage allowance & free standard seat selection.

This was my ticket. Our flight’s number changed from OK 508 to OK 502 weeks before the schedule.

Czech Airlines, like most European carriers, offer their tickets according to fare bundles. The airline offers an economy lite fare which only includes carry-on baggage allowance & a guaranteed seat on the flight. All other services, such as check in baggage & seat selection, come with extra fees. I availed of the economy plus fare which, as mentioned above, includes carry on-baggage allowance, check in baggage allowance & free standard seat. They also offer an economy flex bundle which includes a light snack, priority check in & boarding on top of all the perks of economy plus passengers. Earning miles, rebooking & refund conditions differ from one bundle to the other. The airline also sells business class tickets on bundles. Inter-Europe business class products are not impressive so let’s not talk about it.

Remember my previous flight report on Brussels Airlines on my flight from Brussels to Prague? I availed of their Light & Relax fare bundle with has the same inclusions as Czech Airlines’ Economy Plus fare bundle. These fare bundles remind me of low-cost carriers here in the Philippines – the likes of Cebu Pacific Air & Air Asia.

Flight & Aircraft Information

Czech Airlines used a 19-year old Smartwings Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This aircraft, with registration OK-TSV, has been in use since December 2000. The plane has 189 seats on a 3-3 configuration. Business class passengers are seated in front of the cabin & have the middle seats vacant.

This flight I took is actually a Prague to Reykjavik flight which has a technical stop in Copenhagen. The flight left Prague with passengers both bound for Denmark & Iceland. We, the passengers bound for Copenhagen, disembarked in Copenhagen Airport. The plane took in new bound for Reykjavik, Iceland from Copenhagen. This flight from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark took 1 hour & 5 minutes from one airport gate to the other. We were airborne for only 59 minutes.

Airport & Ground Experience

I arrived Prague Airport 2 hours before my flight. Czech Airline’s check in counters were empty, not even a single person checking in during my time. Check in process took less than 5 minutes. The guy at the check in counter wasn’t friendly at all.

After check in, I went through security check. Business class & priority passengers & status holders have a special line. Economy class passengers go through the general line. The line moved fast because the airport’s security system is very organized & efficient. There was no need to clear immigration since I was travelling within the Schengen zone.

Prague Airport has spacious pre-departure areas. There were very few people during my time, leaving many seats empty. Some seats have power outlets & charging ports. The ground staff commenced boarding on time. Business class & priority passengers boarded first, followed by those seated at the back of the plane. I was one of the few passengers who boarded last. Boarding process was peaceful & organized. It took 25 minutes to board all passengers.

In-flight Product

Czech Airlines’ in-flight product is very basic. The seats were fitted with dirty & old leather covering. Each seat has 2 small pockets in front. The 1^st pocket found within the eye level has all the in-flight literature – in-flight magazine, food menu & safety card. The smaller pocket found somewhere by the knees are for the passenger’s things – boarding pass & passport, phone, etc. The leg room was standard – not very limited but not too spacious. Seats didn’t have power outlets or charging ports. My seat 7A’s recline function was broken; I sat & slept upright throughout the flight.

Czech Airlines provide onboard snacks / meals to business class & economy flex passengers & to those who pre-ordered snacks at the time of booking or at least 24 hours into the flight. The airline has a buy-on-board scheme where economy passengers can buy snacks & drinks during the flight. The food & drinks menu is found in the seat pocket in front of each passenger.

The airline doesn’t offer personal entertainment screens for their inter-Europe flights. The only form of entertainment is the in-flight magazine found in the seat pockets.

Cabin Crew Service

Believe it or not – I had limited contact with the cabin crew. They greeted me when I boarded the flight & said thanks when I left the aircraft after the flight. That’s it! There was nothing special with the service provided on this flight. They did their job, assisted the passengers put bags in the overhead cabins, did the security checks & offered snacks & drinks midway through the flight.

Verdict

Believe it or not, I believe this flight with Czech Airlines went well. After flying with Brussels Airlines to Prague a few days before, I didn’t put in high expectations for this flight. The flight was alright – not exceptional & not bad. Mad respect to the airline’s long & eventful history but I think they need to step-up their service in everything.

I was not impressed with the guy at the check in counter. I was impressed by how things happened so quick – check in, security check & walk to the boarding gate all done in less than 30 minutes. Prague Airport’s facilities & organized passenger flow system were excellent. The waiting areas were clean, spacious & quiet.

View from my seat 7A – look at the Smartwings winglet on this 20-year old Boing 737-800 plane.

The aircraft used for the flight is 20 years old. The seats & interiors badly need a refit. On-board service & in-flight soft product was alright – nothing spectacular. Having almost the same experience with Brussels Airlines made me think that in-flight experience with relatively small European carriers are pretty much the same with some Asian low-cost carriers; but these Asian LCCs have relatively newer planes, more hospitable cabin crew & even cheaper fares.

Will I fly Czech Airlines again? Yes, no or maybe. Just like Brussels Airlines, it’ll all depend on the ticket price. If the fares are cheaper than other flag carriers or low-cost airlines, then I’ll go with Czech Airlines. If the fares have small differences, then I might opt for the other airline. The experience was not bad but it was also not exceptional. It was just alright & I couldn’t be happier that they flew me to Copenhagen safe & on time.

Avgeeks, check out the details of this short flight from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark:

Airline: Czech Airlines
Flight Date: 5 November 2019
Flight Number: OK 502 (changed from OK 508)
Route: Prague (PRG) to Copenhagen (CPH)
Duration: 1:05 hours
Seat Number: 7A
Aircraft: Boeing 739-809
Aircraft Registration: OK-TSV
Aircraft Engine: 2 x CFM International Jet Engines
Age: 20 years old
Year Delivered: 2000

Have you ever tried Czech Airlines in the past? What do you think of the airline? Do you have any questions about the airline & its flight policies or perhaps anything about Prague or Czech Republic? Post them in the comments section below. I will try to answer them as soon as possible. You may also send your questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report! I hope you can support & follow me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram. Watch out for more flight reports & Going Solo in Europe content in the coming weeks! Ciao.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hostel of the Day: DREAM HOSTEL PRAGUE – Stylish & Budget-Friendly Backpacker Hostel in New Town

Another day, another hostel to feature! My recent Going Solo in Europe posts showed the places I visited around Prague, Kutná Hora & Český Krumlov in Czech Republic. I spent 4 out of the 17 days in Czech Republic & I stayed in a stylish & budget-friendly hostel named DREAM Hostel Prague. This backpacker hostel will be today’s hostel of the day feature. This is also my 3^rd European hostel after staying with Generator Hostel in Amsterdam & Sleep Well Youth Hostel in Brussels. Allow me to share some facts about this lovely Prague hostel & how my stay with them went.

Welcome to today’s Hostel of the Day feature – the cheap, cozy & central DREAM Hostel Prague 🇨🇿

Czech Republic was the 3^rd country I visited during my 19-day (flights included) solo trip to Europe last October to November 2019. I started my journey in the Netherlands & visited Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. After a few days, I went down to Belgium & explored Brussels, Ghent & Bruges, I flew to Czech Republic & walked around Prague, Kutná Hora & Český Krumlov. The last leg of this 2.5-week trip was Denmark. I decided to just spend the last few days around the beautiful Copenhagen. If you want to know the details about this Euro trip of a lifetime, check out all the posts under the Going Solo in Europe category.

Dream Hostels & Dream Hostel Prague

DREAM Hostels is a new generation of backpacker hostels located mainly in Ukraine & Central Europe. DREAM Hostels provide budget-friendly & cozy (hotel-like) accommodation, have nice & engaging staff & feature a solo-traveler friendly hostel atmosphere. DREAM Hostels are mainly found around Ukraine (Kiev, Lviv, Poltava, Zaporozhye, Odessa, Rakhov) but also have international branches in Czech Republic, Poland & Slovakia.

I stayed in their Prague property for 4 nights last November 2019. Their hostel in Czech Republic is named DREAM Hostel Prague – a stylish & budget-friendly hostel in the center of New Town Prague. Know more about this hostel in the specifics below.

One of DREAM Hostel Prague’s chairs in the communal co-working space & lounge near reception.

Location & Access

DREAM Hostel Prague is located at Ve Smečkách 23 in New Town Prague. It is in one of the streets off Wenceslas Square, one of the famous & lively squares in Prague. The nearest metro stations are Muzeum & Můstek Stations. It is accessible to both subways & trams. It is near restaurants, cafes & shops. Old Town Prague is 15 minutes away by foot while Národní Muzeum (National Museum) is 5 minutes away by foot.

Václav Havel Airport Prague is about 12 kilometers away from the hostel. A trip from the airport to the hostel or vice versa can take around 35 minutes to 1 hour by taking the bus & the metro. DREAM Hostel Prague’s location is excellent. It is in the center of New Town Prague, in a very quiet but accessible street off Wenceslas Square.

Room Options

DREAM Hostel Prague offers various room & dormitory configurations to its guests. Those travelling on budget can stay in their 8-bed mixed, 8-bed female, 6-bed mixed & 4-bed mixed dormitory rooms. Couples, families or those travelling in small groups can opt to stay in the double or twin rooms, triple & quadruple rooms. Selected rooms have private amenities while most rooms have access to common toilet & shower areas. Rates per night vary depending on days & season. Peak seasons like summer & Christmas holidays cost more than the ordinary / off-peak seasons.

This is my bed in the 8-bed dormitory room. The bed was clean, all made-up & comfy to sleep on.

I booked my stay with Booking.Com & paid 1,880 Kč (₱4,030.14 including credit card charges in local currency) for 4 nights. It cost me around 470 Kč per night – ₱1,008 in local currency. The nightly rate includes a bed in a mixed dormitory room. All beds have curtains for privacy. Rooms have air conditioning & heating systems. Each bed has a plug, reading light, a personal shelf & a locker. Guests share toilets & bathrooms per floor.

I personally think the nightly rate was alright considering I booked my bed 2-3 months before my intended stay. The hostel’s rates are way cheaper than those I paid for Generator Amsterdam, Sleep Well Youth Hostel & Steel House Copenhagen.

Tip: It’s cheaper to book with them directly. Book early to get the best rates on your room of choice. Check out the rates on your planned stay here.

Guest Perks

DREAM Hostel Prague has a long list of perks guests can enjoy during their stay. Check out the list below:

Free Wi-Fi Access – Wi-Fi access is free for all guests of DREAM Hostel Prague. The wi-fi password is found in your key card holder & in the signage all over the hostel. Their connection is fast & reliable!

Affordable Breakfast Buffet – DREAM Hostel Prague offers an affordable breakfast buffet every morning from 8:00 am. The buffet costs 145 Kč on the day itself but is 20 Kč cheaper at 125 Kč per person if you buy it at least the day before. The buffet spread includes bread, jam, cereals, salad, ham, cheese, potatoes & sausages. Drinks such as coffee, tea, fruit juice & water are also included in the rate.

Stylish Indoor Communal Areas & Co-Working Spaces – The hostel has well-designed communal areas & co-working spaces. There is a long wooden table in front of reception for those who want to do some work. There are also couches & comfortable seats around.

Outdoor Garden & Sun Terrace – The hostel has an outdoor garden & sun terrace outside the kitchen & dining area. It is a perfect area to get some sun or to have some quiet time in the morning.

Communal Kitchen & Dining Area – Hostel guests have access to a communal kitchen & dining area. They can buy ingredients from the supermarket & cook their own meals in the kitchen. Once done cooking, guests can enjoy their meals in the spacious dining area beside it.

Clean & Well-Maintained Shower & Toilet Areas – DREAM Hostel Prague’s showers & toilets are some of the cleanest & well-maintained facilities I’ve seen in Europe. Staff clean them every morning & do checks at random times. It’s also the only hostel which has a bidet! I am one happy Asian!

Hostel Dog – One unique thing I found in this hostel is Sam, their hostel dog. This doggo walks freely around the hostel common areas during the day. This dog is nice & friendly. Don’t worry, he doesn’t bite.

Free Luggage Storage – The hostel offers free (yes, free!) luggage storage for all its incoming & outgoing guests. Luggage can be stored in the storage room at the back of reception area, just before the lifts. Make sure your bags have their own locks.

On-site Café & Bar – DREAM Hostel Prague has an on-site care & bar called MATES Café. They offer snacks, drinks & even alcoholic beverages for reasonable prices.

24-Hour Reception – The hostel’s reception is open 24 hours every day & 7 days a week. There’s always someone in reception to help guests out at any time of the day. No need to worry if you need to check out early or check in during the wee hours of the morning.

Friendly Multi-Lingual Staff – The hostel’s staff are very friendly & accommodating. They welcomed me with the best smiles & even gave recommendations on where to go or what to do during my stay. Some staff are multi-lingual, they speak a number of languages.

Amenity Shop & Rental – The hostel as small shop where guests can buy or rent travel essentials such as toothbrush, shampoo, etc.

Laundry Facility – DREAM Hostel Prague has a laundry facility in the basement. Guests may use it too. Make sure to ask reception for details / costs.

Secured Room Entry – All guests are given electronic key cards which only has access to their specific rooms. This ensures that no outsiders can randomly go inside the guest rooms.

Free Walking Tours & Anti-Tours – DREAM Hostel Prague has partnered with SANDEMANs New Europe for a daily free walking tour. A tour guide picks up hostel guests daily at 10:00 am for the 11:00 am free walking tour. The hostel also has anti-tours for those who want to know more about Prague. You may approach reception for more details.

Free Use of Board Games & Puzzles – Guests can play with the board games & puzzles for free while killing some time. These games & puzzles are found in front of the café / reception area.

Lift Access – Guests, especially those with large suitcases, can take the lift up to the rooms without having to carry them.

Experience

I had a lovely 4-night stay at DREAM Hostel Prague. Coming from the expensive cities of Amsterdam & Brussels, I feel like I had some relief paying for an affordable hostel at least in one of the cities I visited. The hostel’s facilities are great. I like the set-up of the common areas & the co-working spaces near the reception – stylish & very pleasing to the eyes. This area is also guest-friendly – a fun place to meet new people who are also travelling. I quite a good bunch of people in this hostel.

This long table in front of reception was probably my most favorite part in the hostel. It’s so cozy!!

The hostel’s location is a winner. It’s located in a quiet street off the busy Wenceslas Square. It actually is in a street of strip clubs & bars but the hostel is safe. I didn’t even hear any noise from those establishments during night-time. The hostel is near the highlights of New Town Prague & is also 15 minutes away by foot from the Old Town highlights. It’s also very accessible to public transportation.

I stayed in an 8-bed mixed dormitory room for 4 nights. The rooms were spacious enough. The beds had curtains for privacy & even positioned in such a way that all guests don’t face each other when sleeping. The beds were spacious & comfortable to sleep in. The shower & toilet beside our room was well-maintained & spot clean.

The hostel paid breakfast was superb. I enjoyed having the sausages (with ketchup) & fried potatoes every morning. The drinks selection was also great. The hostel staff were nice & friendly. They entertained all my questions & even helped me find the best & cheapest way to Český Krumlov. To be honest, I can’t think of a bad thing to stay about this lovely hostel. I mean it!

DREAM Hostel Prague is not the cheapest (but still cheap) hostel option in the city. There are other properties which are cheaper but noisy & less private. This hostel is a perfect example of a property that offers clean & well-maintained facilities, guest privacy in rooms, cozy common areas & excellent guest services for an affordable price. It may not be super duper mega cheap (but it is still very cheap in European standards lol) as the others but it surely gives worth to every money spent in the hostel. I would love to go back in DREAM Hostel Prague again in the future!

Here are the hostel’s contact details for future reference:

DREAM Hostel Prague
Address: 600/23 Ve Smečkách St. Prague, Czech Republic 11000
Phone Numbers: +420 601 576 992 / +420 222 522 650
E-Mail Address: prague@dream-hostels.com
Website: www.dream-hostels.com/en/prague
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DREAMHostelPrague
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dream_hostels

What do you think of DREAM Hostel Prague compared to Generator Amsterdam & Sleep Well Youth Hostel? I will choose DREAM Hostel Prague every single time. The other 2 hostels are also great but this just gives you more than what you actually pay for. It’s also way cheaper than the other two. Do you have any questions about today’s hostel feature? Drop them in the comments section below. I’ll answer them later. Do you have anything to ask about Prague, Kutná Hora, Český Krumlov or Czech Republic in general? Send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll make sure to answer you in no time.

If you want to know more about my Europe 2019 trip, check out the posts under the Going Solo in Europe category. You’ll know more about this trip of a lifetime. Oh, can I ask for a favor? Can you help me out & follow me on my social media platforms – Facebook & Instagram? I still have a lot of travel-related content to share so please watch out for them.

Thank you for joining me in today’s hostel of the day feature. Until next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: ČESKÝ KRUMLOV – Czechia’s Quaint Fairy Tale Town

After spending a wonderful day around Old Town Prague & Prague Castle & an interesting walking tour around Kutná Hora, I decided to visit another Czech town down south called Český Krumlov. I initially thought of going to the spa town of Karlovy Vary but I figured Český Krumlov is the better option. Join me in today’s photoblog as I show you the beauty of Czech Republic’s quaint fairy tale town in the south of Bohemia.

In case you missed it, I went on a 19-day journey from the Philippines to Europe last October to November 2019. I flew to The Netherlands via Singapore & visited Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. I also spent a few days in Belgium – around Brussels, Ghent & Bruges. I flew to Czech Republic & visited Prague, Kutná Hora & this town, Český Krumlov. I spent the last leg of the trip around Copenhagen in Denmark with a friend. If you want to know more about this trip, check out my Going Solo in Europe Series in this website.

Český Krumlov

Český Krumlov is a small Czech town 170+ kilometers down south of Prague by the Vltava River. The town rose as a settlement of the Vítkovci family in the early times. When the family line came to an end, King Wenceslaus II handed the town to the Rosenberg Family. The prominent Bohemian noble family built the castle in the 14^th century. They also promoted trade & development in town where both Germans & Czechs live.

In the 1600s, the Rosenbergs sold the town to Habsburgs of Austria which was then handed to the House of Eggenberg. The Eggenberg Family ruled the town for a century until the family line came to an end. The town was then handed over to the House of Schwarzenberg. This Bohemian (Czech) & Franconian (German) aristocrat family owned & ruled Český Krumlov until the end of the world wars. The Czech government expelled the town’s German population after the World War II. The government took control of the town since then.

In 1992, the Historic Centre of Český Krumlov made it to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites. Today, Český Krumlov is a popular tourist destination to holiday makers. Big part of the town’s economy comes from tourism. The town’s main attraction is the Český Krumlov Castle. It also has museums, galleries, breweries, shops, restaurants & old buildings which tourists can visit. The best way to explore the town is by foot. The town is so small; one can literally walk to the other side of town in 20 minutes.

Planning to go to Europe once everything goes back to normal? You don’t have to worry about the Schengen visa. It’s easy to apply for one. Check out my blog on how to get a Schengen tourist visa on your own.

Prague to Český Krumlov

I took the subway to the bus terminal.. This is how Prague subway stations look like. Old & unique!

There are different ways to go to Český Krumlov from Prague. The easiest way is to rent a car & drive south for about 2-3 hours. If you don’t drive, you can opt to take the train or bus. Český Krumlov & Prague are linked by a direct train service that takes close to 3 hours per way. Several bus companies operate between these 2 places several times a day. The bus is the cheapest option; the bus trip takes about 3 hours per way.

Seats have personal entertainment screens!

I took the bus on both ways just because it’s cheaper & more comfortable. I booked with RegioJet & paid 368 CZK (about ₱750 return). I took the 7:00 am trip from Prague & arrived in Český Krumlov at 9:45 am. I left Český Krumlov at 5:00 pm & arrived back in Prague a few minutes before 8 in the evening. The bus had comfortable seats, on-board personal entertainment screens, charging & power outlets & a lavatory. I’m glad I took the bus on both ways – it was the cheapest & most comfortable option.

Wiseman Free Walking Tour

You guys know that I’m a fan of free (well tip-based) walking tours. I took these free walking tours in Amsterdam, Brussels, Ghent, Bruges & even in Prague. Český Krumlov also has its own free walking tour in the name of Wiseman Free Walking Tour. Just like the ones I before, this walking tour uses a ‘donation-based’ system where joiners give tips or donations after every tour.

The walking tour starts in front of the Tourist Information Center on the Main Square (Náměstí Svornosti) in Český Krumlov. The tour takes about 2 hours & walks the guests around Český Krumlov, from the old buildings, churches & halls to the Český Krumlov castle grounds & breweries while sharing the story of how the town developed & survived through the years. Our group had a great walk with Libor that day. He gave us a lot of information about the town’s history, way of living & culture. He also answered our questions about the town.

Libor, our guide from Wiseman Free Walking Tour, took us around Český Krumlov for 2.5 hours!

This free walking tours occur ever day at 10:30 am & 2:00 pm from April to October & 10:30 am only from November to March. Just look for the guide wearing a red shirt with a red umbrella in front of the tourist information office.

Allow me now to share with you the photos I took during this DIY day trip to Český Krumlov.

This is *Český Krumlov*‘s main square – it’s not your typical busy & crowded European town square.

Inside St. Vitus Church in *Český Krumlov*

*Český Krumlov* Castle from the Vltava River somewhere in in the town. A magical place to visit!!!

A random beautiful & colorful street in *Český Krumlov*. You can have your photo shoots anywhere!!

The view of *Český Krumlov* town from the eastern part of the *Český Krumlov* Castle. Stunning, eh?

*Český Krumlov*‘s draft beer! Of course I had to try it – this 500 ml pint was priced 46 CZK / PHP 43!

This is Czech’s National Meal – Roast Park with Dumplings & Cabbage. Tbh, bothing fancy there.

I hope you enjoyed the photos! Český Krumlov is a lovely place to visit especially on a sunny cold autumn day. It feels like a fairy tale come true walking around the old houses, the castle & the cobble stone covered streets. The town’s quiet & relaxing. The locals are nice & cheerful. Český Krumlov is easily one of the favorite small towns I visited in this Going Solo in Europe trip.

One last look at *Český Krumlov* town from the castle grounds. Beautiful town – felt like a fairy tale!

What do you think of Český Krumlov based on the photos above? Is it a town you’ll visit when you go to Czech Republic in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the town? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll answer them soon.

Thank you for joining me in Český Krumlov today. Unfortunately, our time in Czech Republic is soon coming to an end. Watch out for the upcoming blogs on the Going Solo in Europe Series. For the meantime, you may follow me on my social media accounts – Facebook & Instagram.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.